Best overall Asian restaurant I've experienced so far in central PA. Understand this is more of an Asian fusion restaurant and so some dishes taste less authentic (ie Pad Thai texture and flavor are way off) but it is bringing to you an excellent interpretation, and dare I say creating its own signature of Asian dining here. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience is cozy and intellectual[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], service is attentive but not overbearing and the quality of the ingredients and attention to detail is top notch. The portion sizes are perfect, and perfect for the price point. My personal favorites are the house red curry, and the tom yum. read more

Came here for the first time for dinner with a couple of friends. Hubby and I had the chicken karage, tofu miso ramen, and red curry. Total came out to approximately $43 (not including tip). What's hot - Menu. Pretty good. There's something for everyone, possibly even vegans. I'm uncertain whether they have vegetable broth, but they have options that are vegetarian. There's pho, ramen, rice, curry, meats, and tofu. - Quality. Pretty good. The chicken karage was not overly breaded, crispy, had a nice flavor. Lt was not overly salty and served warm. My tofu miso ramen was not overly seasoned, which I appreciate. One of my pet peeves is when noodle soups are too salty, because it detracts from what the natural flavor should be. My miso ramen had a nice seasoning. My husband really enjoyed his red curry. He said it had a slight kick of spiciness with a slight taste of sweetness from the coconut milk. - Portions. Pretty decent size portions to get you full, not stuffed. Good value for money. - Location. Centrally located in downtown around other shops and restaurants. What's not - Service. Among the 4 in our group, 3 of us had something wrong with our orders. My ramen arrived with no tofu. When our friends received their orders, it was completely wrong (I.e., they were given someone else's order). There were also mistakes in the dishes they actually ordered. Given all the errors, everything was delayed and took longer, which was frustrating. - Payment. You're expected to pay your tab before actual service, which includes tips, as well. Hubby and I aren't fans of that, especially given all the mistakes that our group encountered. - Parking. Since it's downtown, it's mostly timed and metered parking in the area. - Time. They close at 8pm. Our group was the last ones in the restaurant, which surprised us. As such, I asked their staff what time they close. When they responded 8pm, I asked them if our group should leave. The staffers told me that my group was ok, which we appreciated. However, we didn't stick around. Just be prepared that this is not a place you can continue to hang out in. Final answer Willing to return, but not a first choice. read more

See all

Surprising find in this small town. Good selection of ramen. Prices good and service was quick, which is rare in these parts. You will pay when you order which is common for restaurants in Japan. Wonton ramen was exactly what I wanted. Nothing fancy and over the top and exactly what I expected. read more

Issei is probably my favorite restaurant in Carlisle and I would highly recommend! My favorite dish is the veggie yaki udon. read more

Issei Noodle - D1. Asian Sesame - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

See all

Tried to give them a try, however a place that wants payment before you receive the food doesn't trust you as a person, im 60 and my wife 50 they said they are in a college town and were afraid of dine n dashers. Really.... keep your food. The waitress seemed surprised we left without ordering, we went across street to hamilton restaurant somewhere we often go, probably better food, and they serve you with a big smile. read more

Awesome little hip restaurant with some of the BEST ramen there is!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Seating is tight, but fun.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is by far the best when it comes to flavor and consistency. I have NEVER had a bad meal here & I come quite often. The broth from the ramen is so intense in flavor it's practically euphoric. I can't recommend just one thing, but the blackened garlic ramen and the pad thai is by far my favorite. Service staff is friendly and helpful. Pick a table and go up to the counter to order. Take a seat and enjoy. Highly recommend Issei Noodle next time you're in Carlisle. read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is pretty small, and tables can be tight, but we got a table for 2 easily on a rainy Saturday at noon.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I'm glad I read reviews before going here so I knew that we should go to the counter to get a table assigned to us, take menus with us, then go back to the counter to order. We went with two ramen dishes and a DonBuri dish, plus a mango milk tea with strawberry-popping boba. The food came out pretty quickly and was piping hot. The shoyu ramen was delicious, especially since we added egg and shrimp to it. The star of the meal was the Spicy TanTan ramen, which had a creamier broth (not clear)! Both were very flavorful, but the ground meat and Chashu pork in the Spicy TanTan blew us away. The Chashu DonBuri was delicious! I highly recommend all three of those dishes. Can't wait to come back. read more

See all

Order at the counter and get highly competent foods delivered to your table by happy friendly people. Quality kitchen outputs. I would eat there again. Part of a walkable and delightful downtown ecosystem. read more

We have been dining here for years. The service is always wonderful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is cozy and inviting[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We stopped in Friday night and they were getting slammed. But everyone was patient the staff kept going. Our food came out and it was as always excellent. We love Issei!!! read more

This was such a wonderful experience and find while I was on a business trip. I was in the mood for something other than pizza and this small location caught my eye. Everything on the menu looked delicious but I decided to take the recommendation of the girl taking our order. The noodle dish was fresh and delicious and the flavor was out of this world! The veggie dumplings were amazing.. probably some of the best I've had, and I've had a lot! Don't underestimate their tea either. They are made fresh, infused with fruit, and without sugar! They have unique flavors and their green tea was my absolute favorite. So delicious! I really can't recommend this restaurant enough! read more

Issei Noodle - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

See all

I have been wanting to try Issei for so long and finally did. This restaurant is about to be my new favorite Japanese spot. The food was delicious and I can't wait to go back and try something else. All the staff were nice and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I absolutely LOVE how the windows are covered with plants![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

See all

Funky noodle shop in the heart of Carlisle, PA. I tried the vegetarian pho, a rice dish with shrimp tempura, and a mango bubble tea. What stood out to me the most was that they used real fruit puree in the fruit teas that they make, which made the drink very flavorful. read more

See all

This place has delicious food!! They have Vegan options too! The portions are large also! The service was good too! My sister and I go here all the time! read more

This review is for lunch for two on a Friday in mid May. We've been eating at Issei off and on for at least ten years and it's always spectacular. service: It's a small and very hard working staff. Everyone was professional and helpful. You order at the register and the team delivers your food. food: My wife had 17A Sakura Warm Ramen ($17 as of 05/2024). That's pork TanTan, chicken, and veggies over noodles but no broth. It's a fantastic dry ramen. I had D5 Chicken Karaage-Don ($16 as of 05/2024). This is fried chicken pieces, soft-boiled egg, and corn, over white rice. details: The restaurant is small with some communal tables. Parking in downtown Carlisle can be challenging. Be sure to check the hours. As of 05/2024, Issei only serves lunch Thursday through Saturday. read more

See all

I cannot get enough of Issei Noodle! I will always gladly go out of my way for Issei. Ramen is flavorful, the fried chicken special was so good, filling and had great spice. The peanut butter pie is too good to share or save for later! I love their black garlic ramen, it truly brings me so much joy. It's worth the wait but it's always better to beat the rush. Prices are good, especially when the food is this top notch. Take your friends or go by yourself but just take a trip to this yummy restaurant! read more

See all

Have to try the spicy tantan. Lots of other great things to try as well. When they have their spring rolls they are a must.

Some of the best ramen I have had! Organizationally, the seating be ordering process can be improved. It was very busy and is a popular Dickinson College spot so when I entered, I had about three very friendly staff ask if I had been seated already or to ask me to repeat my order. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience is really fun, communal, and comfortable and the selection on the menu is great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Great service and good food the Roman noodles was good [[HIGHLIGHT]]the place is really good[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will definitely be back there

Thank you for accommodating our large group of high school students. Servers were flexible and helped our kids have an enjoyable meal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute, small college town vibes.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Incredibly fast service. You grab a table and look at their menu then go up to the counter and order and pay. We shared 3 items....that being gyoza, shrimp tempura and yakisoba. Having lived in Japan we are spoiled but this came in fairly close. read more

Issei Noodle - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

See all

Visited for my first time. Admittedly, I'm not very versed in this cuisine but what I had was delicious. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant was warm and cozy. I'd quite like to return and try some different dishes. read more

I finally tried Issei Noodle after having it bookmarked for years. I visit Carlisle on weekends, which is tough -- Issei always had lines on Saturdays and wasn't open Sundays. We tried a variety of types of noodle and rice dishes and everything lived up to the high expectations that had been set: great complex flavors, high-quality ingredients, good portions, reasonable prices. I believe Issei Noodle would be a hit in any big city, but in Carlisle, it's a home run. There's nothing else like it in town. Thus the five stars. In Manhattan or LA, it would still be recommended but not quite exceptional -- maybe 4 stars there. Somebody said to me that I should just order anything -- it's all good. I believe them. For my personal order I went the the recommendation of the cashier, who told me her favorite was the "dry" 17A Sakura Ramen. It was unusual, with a peanut sauce and avocado delivering ample moisture and richness to the wheat noodles. A terrific dish, even if the chicken was a bit dry and there weren't quite enough veggies. read more

Issei Noodle - #17A. Sakura Ramen - "Dry" ramen. Take it up a notch by mixing in the optional hot chili. Yum. - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

See all

Only ramen place in town and it's fantastic! I've lived in major metropolitan areas and the one thing I e missed is the availability of many cuisines that are all really good. I'm happy that we have a ramen spot that I can rely on to be great every time. The staff is wonderful as well. The only thing that could improve is their hours are limited and you have to get there when they open or you will wait as seating is also limited. read more

I come here one to two times per week because I love it so much. The flavors are out of the world, and the portions are good. My only complaint is getting water. I've had multiple visits where we don't get any until we get the main entrees out, and refills are hard to come by. The water is also room temperature. read more

See all

The food is always freshly made and delicious. Staff is friendly and helpful. I eat here at roast a few times a month.

Hell yeah Carlisle! Stepping up to world class unpretentious style! We really felt that we were home in San Francisco with the vibe and the food. read more

Great Miso Ramen and steamed wontons!! Fast service with takeout and easy to order online. read more

Yes, it's great but has gotten expensive, especially for a bowl of noodles, a few vegetables and some broth. Makes me sad.

Delicious! All three meals were good. I wish I'd have ordered the Pad Thai, as it looked larger than the dish I ordered, #11. But we all loved the flavor, the taste... it was so very good! The Boba was also very good. Not a college place indoors, but dang if the food was not delicious! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Went on a Saturday night, so of course it was busy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Rather than wait for a table we ordered take out (for 7). Returned 20 min later to get our order, took the bag with my name on it and drove home, about 25 min drive. We arrived to find out that our order had been mislabeled and received someone else's food. I called and left a message explaining what happened and if we could possibly receive a refund. Got a return call from one of the owners apologizing for what happened and then offered to drive our order to our house! This was going above and beyond what I expected. She brought our order to our door with more apologies (I understand, this stuff sometimes happens and I wasn't going to be a jerk about it) and compensated us for the inconvenience. And the food was delicious, too:) 5 stars for going out of their way to fix an issue and make sure their customers were happy. Thank you! read more

Amazing food! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a tight space, but worth the effort.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Staff are friendly and quick to fix errors and make sure you're having a wonderful meal, read more

Absolute perfect Ramen experience and I couldn't have asked for a better meal to fuel me for the rest of the day. I won't visit the area and not eat here again. Perfection. I'm in love. read more

Issei Noodle - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Great dining with a variety of noodle dishes! Craving a bowl of ramen I was pleasantly surprised to find an location with such a delicious and authentic tasting bowl! The Black Garlic Ramen hit the spot just right, solid garlic flavor but not over powering. The bowl is very generous in size and they're also generous with the chashu. The Egg Rolls were freshly made, crispy and hot! And the viet iced coffee was perfect, not too sweet nor too strong of a kick. Great find for this small town! read more

Issei Noodle - Black garlic ramen, viet iced coffee, pork and crab egg rolls - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

I had very high expectations for this place but felt like it was not all that. I had heard very good things about it, but it was pretty average in my opinion. The pad Thai did not taste very authentic to me. The service is a little slow at times which is also a downside. read more

Issei Noodle - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Had the Dry Ramen! Loved everything about it. First time here and went with the reviews. Will be back here again. The service was great. Everyone was so friendly. We went in on a Wednesday evening. No rush and plenty of seating available. read more

Alright so. I've been coming here as a kid since the day it opened, and even now as an adult I -always- stop in when I'm back in town visiting! They've evolved so much but at the same time the taste is still the same, which is a good thing because it's literally top tier Very proud of how far they've come This time I ordered the #1 to go (not pictured: the 2 shrimp I already shoved in my mouth) and a thai bubble tea which wasn't too watery and very tasty! read more

Issei Noodle - The #1. Chasu Wonton Noodles - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

My second time here since I was in town. Definitely worth it since the food is so tasty. I ordered the veggie pad Thai with tofu snd it was the best I have had, so tasty and flavorful , my husband ordered the spicy pork harum ramen with chicken and shrimp and he said his was good also. It's all takeout but the food is so good. Wish I had one local to me. We also ordered an extra beef stew and it was delicious, good cuts of meat , tender, tasty . Go try it! read more

Issei Noodle - 18. Pad Thai - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

See all

I was very upset with the menu descriptions. My husband and I tried to order the vegetarian option of the Haru and Sakura Ramen. The cashier told us that both dishes would still contain fish sauce and the Haru Ramen would still be served with shrimp. I informed them that it's not vegetarian if it has those ingredients. They refused to make the ramen without these items. And said 'that's just what vegetarian means here.' It's false advertising to knowingly mislead consumers. If you're not going to make the item vegetarian, then don't market it as such. And as a restaurant, you should know the difference between vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian. read more

Issei Noodle - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Carlisle, Pennsylvania

See all

I'm super confused what the other positive reviews were about that say this place has gluten free options. Based on those reviews, I stopped into Issei Noodle on a cross-state trip only to find that they don't have any gluten free options, but rather "gluten conscious" options. They explained that what this means is they have GF ingredients (rice noodles), but cook them in the same water that they cook gluten-containing noodles in. So it turns out, "gluten conscious" means "gluten free indifferent". 2/5 stars for stupidity. read more

Wow. I've been a dine in regular when traveling the PA Turnpike, but this was my first take out order. Never sure what to expect. I always order the Sakura Ramen and earned a "that guy" title by once ordering Sakura with extra everything and actually eating the whole bowl. This take out order was Sakura Ramen with extra spicy pork and sauce. Again, Wow. It was outstanding. My only regret is that I could eat only one bowl. It's a lot of food, but so darn intense and diverse and tasty that I wish I had room for another. Great job, folks. I'll be back. read more